Zion to Moab – An Incredible One Week Utah Road Trip
If you’re wondering how to decide between visiting Zion National Park in southwestern Utah or Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in the Moab area, I have the solution for you – don’t! Instead, take a road trip from Zion to Moab to experience both of these incredible areas along with lots of other amazing stops in Utah along the way!
With this itinerary that takes you from southwestern to eastern Utah, you can explore the spectacular slot canyons of The Narrows in Zion, stare at the spires in Bryce, hike along the creek in Capitol Reef, marvel at the many arch formations in Arches, and see the sunrise over the landscape of Canyonlands. Zion to Moab is truly the perfect road trip to get a taste of all that Utah has to offer!
7-Day Utah Road Trip Itinerary – Zion to Moab
Here is a brief overview of an epic 7-day itinerary for a road trip from Zion to Moab:
Day 1: Fly into Las Vegas then drive to Zion & explore (2.5 hr drive)
Spend 2 Nights in Zion
Day 2: Hike The Narrows
Day 3: Drive to Bryce & explore (2 hr drive) then head to Capitol Reef (2 hr drive)
Spend 2 Nights in Capitol Reef
Day 4: Explore Capitol Reef
Day 5: Drive to Goblin Valley & explore (1.25 hr drive) then head to Moab (1 hr 40 min drive)
Spend 2 Nights in Moab
Day 6: Explore Arches
Day 7: Sunrise at Canyonlands then hike to Corona Arch then fly home from Salt Lake City
Note: Since this road trip takes you from western to eastern Utah, I recommend flying into Las Vegas and flying out of Salt Lake City.
And this is the whole detailed itinerary to explore all the way across Utah from Zion to Moab.
Day 1: Fly into Las Vegas then Drive to Zion & Explore
2.5 hour drive from Las Vegas Airport to Zion
The closest major airport to Zion is Las Vegas is Las Vegas International Airport which is about a 2.5 hour drive from the park. For this Zion to Moab road trip, I recommend flying in the morning on your first day so you can drive to Zion, check into your hotel, and still have some time to enjoy in Zion National Park.
Where to Stay in Zion
While you will find tons of lodging options near Zion, my number one place to stay in Zion (especially with kids) is Zion Wildflower. This resort is in a stellar location in the town of Virgin, UT just 15 mins from the Springdale entrance to Zion, and it’s situated on a hill with stunning views of the surrounding mesas.
Zion Wildflower is a glamping destination with a variety of lodging options from charming bungalows to covered wagons to single-pole tents. Read more about why my kiddos and I loved our stay at Zion Wildflower so much here!
Evening
East Zion
After you settle into your lodging in Zion, head to the park itself and make a quick stop at the Visitor Center right inside the park entrance to get your bearings. Then drive through the Mt. Carmel Tunnel to East Zion. Park at one of the pullouts to hike along Clear Creek for a bit, then make your way to Canyon Overlook for a spectacular sunset from one of the best views in Zion.
Local tip: Rent your gear for The Narrows hike today at Zion Outfitter before it closes, so don’t have to wait the next morning before you can hike. If you’re hiking in summer, all you need to rent is the boots and a walking stick, but in cooler seasons (especially April or October/November), you’ll need a full-body drysuit, special canyoneering shoes, and neoprene booties along with the walking stick.
Day 2: Hike The Narrows in Zion
This is your big day in Zion for the famous Narrows hike plus another epic hike if you have the energy (or an easier one if you don’t).
Morning
The Narrows
The Narrows in Zion National Park is one of the most famous adventure hikes in the park, and it’s absolutely incredible! You’ll begin on the paved Riverside Walk to get to the start of The Narrows. Then you’ll wade in the Virgin River as you head up into the canyon. The walls close in, and soon you are surrounded by stunning 1,000 foot tall cliffs.
You’ll want to wake up early to hike The Narrows first thing in the morning and beat the crowds. Pack your lunches and plan to get on the first Zion shuttle if you can (if you’re visiting during shuttle season).
If the water is running too high and conditions are unsafe, the park will close The Narrows. In that case, you could hike Riverside Walk, Scouts Lookout, or Emerald Pools instead.
Evening
Watchman or Pa’Rus Trail
In the evening, you have a couple options to savor the rest of your time in Zion. If you have extra energy, I highly recommend hiking the Watchman Trail for an incredible view from up on the cliffs down into the canyon below. It’s just over 3 miles round trip with nearly 500 feet of elevation gain.
For an easier excursion, you can walk the Pa'Rus Trail which starts at the Visitor Center. The Pa’Rus Trail is a paved path running along the Virgin River that’s perfect for an evening stroll. Instead of hiking up The Watchman, you’ll get great views of this awesome rock formation from down below.
Day 3: Drive to Bryce & Explore then Drive to Capitol Reef
2 hour drive from Zion to Bryce Canyon
2 hour drive from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef
Day 3 of this Zion to Moab road trip involves a lot of driving but it’s broken up by some quality time in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Morning/Afternoon
Bryce Canyon
Make the most of your one day in Bryce Canyon with a few of my favorite hikes in the park. When you arrive in the area, stretch your legs on the short and easy 1-mile round trip Mossy Cave Trail hike that’s actually just outside the entrance to the park. The trailhead is just 5 minutes from the town of Tropic where you can grab a bite to eat before or after the hike (I recommend The Pizza Place!).
Then make your way into Bryce Canyon National Park itself and go straight to Sunset Point. The views here are truly phenomenal!! Get in a little more hiking in on the Navajo Loop Trail, a 1.5 mile hike that takes you down to the canyon floor and back.
Then it’s time to hit the road again to head to Capitol Reef, about 2 hours away!
Where to Stay in Capitol Reef
I love the cool atmosphere at Skyview Hotel in the town of Torrey, just outside of Capitol Reef. Skyview features “design inspired by the destination,” and you can see that both in the artwork in the hotel and the views of the surrounding landscape from the property. We stayed in an excellent modern hotel room, but they also have luxurious glamping domes if that’s your vibe.
Skyview is located close to town and places to eat, and it’s only a convenient 15 minute drive to get to Capitol Reef.
Day 4: Explore Capitol Reef
After all the driving yesterday, you’ll stay in one spot today to check out all that Capitol Reef National Park has to offer.
Morning
Sulphur Creek Canyon Hike
The Sulphur Creek Canyon hike is such a cool hike past three waterfalls! Until you hit Sulphur Creek, the trail is kind of dry and hot for about a mile, but from there, it gets a lot better. You’ll follow the stream all the way through the canyon with stunning rock cliffs all around you.
Local tip: This hike is 6 miles one way, so you’ll either want to park an extra car for a shuttle if you’re with a group or try to hitch a ride back to the trailhead.
Afternoon
Burgers & Chill
You’ll probably be pretty hungry after your hike, and you HAVE to go to the Capitol Burger Food Truck for lunch! I really can’t stress enough how amazing these burgers are, and they are definitely the perfect post-hike meal.
If you need some down time from all the road trip adventures, Skyview has plenty of great spots to relax, both in the room and on the property. You could also take a scenic drive along Utah State Route 24 through the park, where you can stop at the historic Fruita Schoolhouse and cross the beautiful wooden boardwalk to see the petroglyphs.
Evening
Sunset at Goosenecks Overlook & Panorama Point
For an absolutely stunning sunset with minimal hiking, head to Panorama Point, which is right off the road, or Goosenecks Overlook just a tenth of a mile down the trail. You can also hike just a little farther (0.3 miles one way) to Sunset Point to see a spectacular view of the Waterpocket Fold that makes up the Capitol Reef landscape.
Day 5: Pit Stop in Goblin Valley then Drive to Moab
1 hour 15 min drive from Capitol Reef to Goblin Valley
1 hour 40 min drive from Goblin Valley to Moab
This is another big driving day, but you’ll take a fun pit stop where you can explore (and the kiddos can run around) for a while.
Morning
Hike to Hickman Bridge
For one last stop in Capitol Reef, enjoy the lovely hike to the Hickman Bridge natural arch. It’s just a 2-mile round trip so it’s a great quick morning hike before you hit the road again.
Afternoon
Pit Stop in Goblin Valley
After your morning hike, head east from Capitol Reef and stop in Hanksville for lunch at Outlaw’s Roost. You can build your own tasty burritos, tacos, and rice bowls at this local Mexican spot.
Then continue on to Goblin Valley State Park for a pit stop. We love Goblin Valley so much! It is literally a rock playground where you and the kiddos can spend a few hours running, climbing, and exploring to your heart's content.
Just keep in mind that Goblin Valley will be super hot in the dead of summer. So if you’re taking this road trip in the summer, have plenty of water and plan to spend less time exploring.
After this jam-packed day, make your way another hour and 40 mins to your final road trip destination of Moab.
Where to Stay in Moab
While there are tons of lodging options in the Moab area from camping to glamping to hotels, I stayed at Field Station Moab, and it was awesome. Field Station is designed for adventurers, and they offer a variety of rooms, including bunk bed rooms for bigger groups, plus posts for van lifers to park. They have a cafe and a gear shop on-site, and you can book fun tour experiences through them, too.
For dinner in Moab, you have to check out the Moab Food Truck Park! The 14 different food trucks offer something for everyone, from hot dogs to tacos to sushi to pizza…and, of course, ice cream and sweet treats for dessert.
Day 6: Explore Arches National Park
It’s finally time to visit Arches National Park and see all the amazing sandstone arch formations that give the park its name!
Note: From April 1 to October 31, timed entry reservations (along with your National Park entrance fee) are required to enter Arches from 7am-4pm each day.
Not gonna lie, I’m not very good at planning in advance to get the timed entry tickets I want, so instead we woke up early to get in the park and see the sunrise. No timed entry pass is needed if you get in before 7am, and it was totally worth the early wake up.
But before you head into Arches, make sure to get some breakfast and have plenty of snacks to eat on the go since you won’t find any concessions in the park. (So bring your water bottles, too!)
Morning
Scenic Drive Through Arches
The best way to get the most bang for your buck in Arches National Park is to do a scenic drive and stop whenever an arch strikes your fancy. Most of the arches don’t require much of a hike to get to.
***North Window Arch
***South Window Arch
***Pine Tree Arch
***Devils Garden
***Dune Arch
***Landscape Arch
***Courthouse Towers
In fact, you can see all of these arches in a morning because of short drive times and hiking times:
Devils Garden
Landscape Arch
Pine Tree Arch
Sand Dune Arch
Courthouse Towers (the lookout here is so beautiful!)
North Window
South Window
Turret Arch
Afternoon
Mill Creek Hike in Moab
Mill Creek is an oasis in the desert, and I loved it so much! The short trail (around 2 miles round trip) leads you to a beautiful waterfall cascading down the sandstone cliffs into a pool you can jump in. It’s such a fun and easy waterfall hike, and I could have stayed here all day to enjoy it.
Day 7: Sunrise in Canyonlands, Hike to Corona Arch, then Drive to Salt Lake City to Fly Home
3 hour 45 min drive from Moab to Salt Lake City Airport
For the last day on your Zion to Moab road trip, it’s all about the views…including the sunrise, which is absolutely worth getting up early for!
Morning
Canyonlands for Sunrise
Mesa Arch is one of the most iconic formations in Canyonlands, and the hike to the arch is easy at only half a mile round trip.
Because of this, it gets pretty crowded, even first thing in the morning. But once the sun pops up over the horizon, and you see that amazing glow through the arch, you definitely won’t regret being there among the crowds.
Dead Horse Point State Park
Dead Horse Point State Park is a must-visit when in Moab, and you don’t have to do any hiking for the best view of the Colorado River curving through the multicolored sandstone buttes. Believe me, you’ll want to squeeze a visit to the stunning overlook here into your time in Moab because his view is the definition of breathtaking!
Afternoon
Hike to Corona Arch
If you have any time and energy left before you head to the airport in Salt Lake City, then the hike to Corona Arch is a must. The 3-mile round trip trail takes you to a massive arch that stands out even among all the other arches in the area.
Keep in mind that this hike has zero shade along the trail, so it is a hike that you need to do during milder temps (either early morning or cooler months). While we did this hike during the afternoon in late August, that was only because it was overcast and stormy that day so the sun and heat weren’t a concern.
Evening
Drive to Salt Lake City & Fly Home
Finally, it’s time for your Zion to Moab road trip to come to an end. The closest major airport to Moab is Salt Lake City (about a 3 hour and 45 min drive), so I recommend flying home from there.
Best Time of Year for This Utah Road Trip from Zion to Moab
The best time of year for this Zion to Moab itinerary is from April to mid November. The temps in the spring and fall should be pleasant, but you might encounter rain or even snow early and late in the season.
If you are going in the heat of the summer (June, July, August), you will have to cut out some of these hikes during the heat of the day (the ones with water should be okay). In the summer, you should only hike early in the morning and later in the day because the temperatures mid-day can be extreme in the desert. Always bring more water with you than you think you could possibly need, and electrolytes or salty snacks are good, too.
Packing List for Your Zion to Moab Road Trip
Here are a few key things to bring on your Zion to Moab road trip so you can be comfortable while hiking and exploring across Utah:
Light, breathable clothing
Warmer layers if coming in April, October, or November
Swimsuit (especially in summer)
Hiking sandals, like Tevas or Chacos (I love my Tevas!)
Hiking shoes
Small day pack (to carry other things on the list)
Water bottle
Snacks
Sunscreen
Sun hat
Sunglasses
This obviously isn’t everything you’ll need, but just a quick rundown of some important things you don’t want to forget.
Hope this itinerary inspires you to plan your own Southwest road trip to explore all the awesome destinations from Zion National Park to Grand Canyon!
Happy Adventuring,
Arika
